Short answer
Art silk (artificial silk) is fabric woven from viscose, rayon or polyester yarn to look like silk. Art silk sarees are one of Surat's signature products because they give a silk-like sheen at a fraction of the price.
Pure silk comes from silkworms and is relatively expensive. Art silk recreates its lustre with man-made filament yarns, mostly viscose or polyester in Surat. It is used for festive, wedding and party-wear sarees, often with zari borders and embroidery.
Many trade names, such as "satin silk", "dola silk" or names referencing famous weaving regions, describe a look rather than a fibre. Always ask for the actual fibre composition, especially if you need to label products for export. See the real silk check below.
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll point you to the right market or supplier.